Help with first E Bike please.... Hi from the Okanagan, BC

[Jaeje]

Hi, all. First off I love this forum. So helpful. I am looking for ebikes for my husband and myself and have spent quite a bit of time reading threads here, but would still like thought from the forum. This will be our first ebike and our first bike in way too many years to discuss. We live 3.5 km up a hill with grades up to 10%, so the end of most rides we will have to attack it when we may be tired. We live near a lake and many rail trails, so we would be road and gravel trail riding with getting out and getting in better shape in mind. I have tried the Pedego Commuter and Interceptor, Surface 604 Rook. I am 54 and have sore knees and shoulders. I preferred the Interceptor to the Commuter (the pedals were more out in front and seemed easier on my knees. But I felt that the front end seemed more loose on the gravel). The other models I am considering but have not tried are Elby, EProdigy Magic Pro, Amego Infinite (on Amazon).

I think I'm looking for pedal assist with throttle, power, range and for me a bike (or seat set up?) for legs in a more forward position.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I feel I'm too new to biking to make a good decision even when trying....

Thanks in advance

J

 

[tallpaul]

On gravel like alongside the rr tracks I think you should look at fat tire (4" wide) bikes that can handle the surface better.
And the fat tire will be fine on road surfaces, offering some shock absorption due to thier large volume of air.
If you have a bike shop to go to I suggest you do a side by side test ride with a hub motor and a mid drive. They are quite different
and you may prefer one but the only way to know is to test drive them for a few miles, with some hills, etc.

 

[Jaeje]

Thanks for the reply tallpaul. Do you have any suggestions on a bike that has fat tires and more upright/relaxed position so my knees wouldn't be right under me? Also, the gravel may have potholes, but mostly packed gravel not the loose stuff on the railway I think. Thanks again.

 

[ymarty]

I have an EProdigy Magic and love it. Little bit wider tires, similar to mountain bike. I will say that the customer service has been AWESOME!!. Because I wanted white, I went with the base Magic and upgraded battery, LCD display and fenders. I am 53 and did have to modify some things. 1. The seat is not suitable for women. I wasnt able to sit for a week. Easy fix. The company pointed me to a suspension post and I bought a seat made for women and that has made all the difference. I chose it specifically for: color, step-thru, hydraulic breaks, thumb throttle with enough power to get up steep hills, readable display, capable of holding groceries and other things. I am really pleased with my purchase.

 

[tallpaul]

Thanks for the reply tallpaul. Do you have any suggestions on a bike that has fat tires and more upright/relaxed position so my knees wouldn't be right under me? Also, the gravel may have potholes, but mostly packed gravel not the loose stuff on the railway I think. Thanks again.

If you require a step thru then I do not believe there is a fat tire version. As far as other ergonomics you'll have to sit on a bike, test ride one, and make your own personal choice. Spending as much on a bike warrants a bit more effort to find the right one! Perhaps a trip to a big city where there are several bike shops. Again, no stat or picture will be able to give you the feedback you seek.

 

[Jaeje]

Thank you ymarty,

I am trying to get to Vancouver area to try the Eprodigy. Cant find a dealer in my area. Sounds great though.

Thanks tallpaul,

I agree I need to test ride them. Still find it overwhelming. Comments much appreciated.

I have an EProdigy Magic and love it. Little bit wider tires, similar to mountain bike. I will say that the customer service has been AWESOME!!. Because I wanted white, I went with the base Magic and upgraded battery, LCD display and fenders. I am 53 and did have to modify some things. 1. The seat is not suitable for women. I wasnt able to sit for a week. Easy fix. The company pointed me to a suspension post and I bought a seat made for women and that has made all the difference. I chose it specifically for: color, step-thru, hydraulic breaks, thumb throttle with enough power to get up steep hills, readable display, capable of holding groceries and other things. I am really pleased with my purchase.

ymarty can you please tell me what seat post and seat and any other upgrades you did. I will try different seats, but would be interested in what you decided too, pls. I think I would like a suspension seat post.

Thanks again....

 

[ymarty]

From the company, I went with base magic but upgraded LCD display, fenders and battery. For the seat, I went with a Bikeroo Most Comfortable Seat for Women. I reached out to Eprodigy about a recommendation on the seat post. They responded by saying one the most popular posts for their magic is the Sunlite Pillar Suspension Post 27.2x 3650mm with a Cane Creek Seatpost adapter shim.

Other stuff added to my bike were side mirrors, basket, a cup holder (I go for a latte in the morning before I start work), cell phone mount, turn signals.

I have on order new pedals and I purchased a better suspension seatpost through a kickstarter. Lastly, was a hitch bike rack

Post: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007BWOLG4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_7?smid=AFUNG49VH4BIB&psc=1
Shim: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011W2R7U/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?smid=AFUNG49VH4BIB&psc=1
Seat: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H60FCMC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Mirrors: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B076V6F6LR/ref=ox_sc_act_title_8?smid=A1G0FGXDQP8VAU&psc=1
Basket: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZMBMQ6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Cup holder: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J2FF71G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Cell phone mount: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LWDCSIZ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Turn signal: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Sma...967.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.4fa24c4dxQluNH
Pedals: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product...1-5d5d-ab66-fa2e13f9cab0&pf_rd_i=3404891&th=1
Kickstarter seatpost: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/redshiftsports/shockstop-seatpost-add-suspension-to-your-bike
Bike rack: https://www.saris.com/product/freedom-ex-2

Yikes, thats a lot. Never listed everything out.

 

[Jaeje]

From the company, I went with base magic but upgraded LCD display, fenders and battery. For the seat, I went with a Bikeroo Most Comfortable Seat for Women. I reached out to Eprodigy about a recommendation on the seat post. They responded by saying one the most popular posts for their magic is the Sunlite Pillar Suspension Post 27.2x 3650mm with a Cane Creek Seatpost adapter shim.

Other stuff added to my bike were side mirrors, basket, a cup holder (I go for a latte in the morning before I start work), cell phone mount, turn signals.

I have on order new pedals and I purchased a better suspension seatpost through a kickstarter. Lastly, was a hitch bike rack

Post: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007BWOLG4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_7?smid=AFUNG49VH4BIB&psc=1
Shim: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011W2R7U/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?smid=AFUNG49VH4BIB&psc=1
Seat: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H60FCMC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Mirrors: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B076V6F6LR/ref=ox_sc_act_title_8?smid=A1G0FGXDQP8VAU&psc=1
Basket: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZMBMQ6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Cup holder: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J2FF71G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Cell phone mount: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LWDCSIZ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Turn signal: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Sma...967.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.4fa24c4dxQluNH
Pedals: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B078Q5FHPJ/ref=s9_acsd_newrz_hd_bw_bEHlb_c_x_w? pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-8&pf_rd_r=1VVK8F43CS281MX1XGFA&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=cca139e0-1a61-5d5d-ab66-fa2e13f9cab0&pf_rd_i=3404891&th=1
Kickstarter seatpost: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/redshiftsports/shockstop-seatpost-add-suspension-to-your-bike
Bike rack: https://www.saris.com/product/freedom-ex-2

Yikes, thats a lot. Never listed everything out.

Wow,

Thank you so much for taking the time....

I have checked out other forums here.

Appreciate and enjoy your posts,


Thanks,